Dany Robin Movies

Filmed on locations ranging from Denmark to the Universal backlot, Alfred Hitchcock's Topaz is based on a novel by Leon Uris. Frederick Stafford, a veteran of European-filmed James Bond rip-offs of the 1960s, is cast as Andre Devereaux, a French secret agent assigned to snoop around Cuba in the months prior to the 1962 missile crisis. Someone is supplying Castro -- and, by extension, Moscow -- with NATO secrets; it is up to Devereaux to liquidate the "mole." Aiding Devereaux is CIA agent Nordstrom (John Forsythe) and aristocratic anti-Castro Cuban Juanita (Karin Dor), who happens to be the girlfriend of pro-Castroite Rico Parra (John Vernon). The director seems to be in awe of the fact-based storyline, and as a result, the film is more cut-and-dried than most Hitchcock efforts. Three different endings were filmed for Topaz; the Laserdisc version carries all three, as does the print available to the American Movie Classics cable service. According to the MPAA, the film was originally rated M but later changed to PG; however, a number of home-video issues of Topaz officially list it as "Not Rated." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this drama, a man is shocked to discover that the wife he thought he murdered is very much alive; he is further to dismayed that it was his girl friend who actually bit the bullet. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Arthur (Jean Richard) dreams of killing his harridan shrew of a wife to spend more time with his demanding mistress in this crime drama. His wife refuses to grant him a divorce, so Arthur puts his mind to murder. Arthur kills a woman who is sleeping in his bed, but it turns out to be the mistress who had earlier come to visit the wife. His spouse knocked out the mistress by hitting her and dumped the unconscious victim in the bed. Arthur and his wife hide the body, but he discovers that the mistress was poisoned before her visit to his wife. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Follow the Boys attempts to recapture the box-office magic of 1960's Where the Boys Are; sometimes it succeeds. Returning from the earlier film are Connie Francis and Paula Prentiss, here cast as Bonnie Pulaski and Toni Denham, tourists on the French Riviera. Together with their Gallic friend Michelle (Dany Robin), Bonnie and Toni are romanced by three sailors on leave: Smitty (Russ Tamblyn), Pete (Richard Long) and Hulldown (Robert Nichols). Also on hand for the fun are married couple Ben (Ron Randell) and Liz (Janis Paige), the latter justifiably jealous of the former. The plot serves as an excuse for a series of sprightly tunes, including the title number. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The French omnibus feature Tales of Paris is made of four separate romantic playlets, each with its own cast, director, and scenarist. "The Tale of Ella," directed by Jacques Poitrenaud, stars Dany Saval as an ambitious nightclub performer who very nearly messes up her chances for success by bullying a mild-looking but important producer. "The Tale of Antonia," directed by Michel Boisrond, finds housewife Dany Robin exacting a sweet revenge on her cheating husband. "The Tale of Francoise," directed by Claude Barma, concerns the efforts of Francoise Arnoul to test the fidelity of her best friend's lover. And "The Tale of Sophie," directed by Marc Allegret, features Catherine Deneuve as a goody-two-shoes who fabricates a torrid romance in order to be accepted by her sexually knowledgeable schoolmates. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Fitzjohn (Peter Sellers) is a retired general who is miserable at home with his shrewish wife Emily (Margaret Leighton). He dreams of younger days when he enjoyed the platonic company of the beautiful Ghislaine (Dany Robin). After many years, she shows up at his door and expresses her desire to take their relationship beyond the platonic level. When his plans are temporarily postponed, he leaves her in care of his right hand man. His aid and Ghislaine fall in love, prompting Fitzjohn to begin court-martial proceedings against his unfaithful aide. When the lineage of his aide is discovered, he tries to halt the trial in this ironic comedy taken from the play by Jean Anouilh. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Director Jacqueline Audry spent her career swimming against the current in the male-dominated film industry, a female director making movies, like this one set in the 17th century, with female leads. In this curious story, a young girl has had to pose as a male all her life because her uncle would only give her father his inheritance if his lone offspring was male. Aside from the potential for humor in that situation alone, the young woman/man later finds herself enlisted in the French army. France and Prussia are in competition for a treaty with the Czarina of Russia, and the young soldier is secretly sent to the Czarina with a note from the French king, meant to trump the Prussians. The Czarina herself is quite a trip, with interesting issues raised by the dual identity of the hero/heroine. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Dany Robin plays the title character in the French comedy Mimi Pinson. The plot is strictly formula stuff, with Mimi being thwarted on all sides by those who have designs on her money and her virtue. Happily, our heroine triumphs over her foes and predators, finding true romance in the arms of Raymond Pellegrin. Critics weren't too keen on Dany Robin's arch, self-conscious performance, but audiences enjoyed every minute of it. The English-dubbed (and censor-trimmed) version of Mimi Pinson later became a mainstay of American "Late Late Show" telecasts. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Mandrin is a colorful swashbuckler revolving around a "French Robin Hood." The title character is played by Georges Riviere, whose problems with 18th century tax collectors have compelled him to turn to outlawry. With a band of fellow misfits, Mandrin robs from the rich, and...you know the rest. After dallying with luscious leading ladies Jeanne Valerie and Dany Robin, Mandrin defeats the National Troops in a rousing finale. Filmed in 1958, Mandrin was not released in the U.S. until 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this romantic French drama, a young country girl heads for the City of Light to find romance and good fortune. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide